Self adjusting seal



Aug. 27, 1963 -E. F. HUDDLE SELF ADJusTING SEAL 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledJune 15, 1960 All@ 27, 1963 E. F. HUDDLE 3,101,954

SELF ADJUSTING SEAL Filed June 15, 1960 2 sheets-sheet `2 United StatesPatent O 3,101,954 SELF ADJUSTHN G SEAL Edwin F. Huddle, Elmwood Park,Ill., assigner to International Harvester Company, Chicago, Ill., acorporation of New Jersey v Filed June 15, 1960, Ser. No. 36,366 9Claims. (Cl. 277-39) This invention relates to seals and morespecifically to a novel seal which is effective to retain grease and thelike in bearings and which prevents the entry of dirt into thelubricant.

A general object of the invetnion is to provide a novel, inexpensive andeffective seal which will function trouble free and have extremely longlife and service.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a novel sealincorporating a pair of axially telescoping elements interposed betweena pair of relatively rotatable members and so arranged that one of theelements carries a sealing ring which slides against a wear surface onthe other element and is constantly under a self-imposed loading whilein wiping relation to the other element.

A more specitic object of the invention is to provide a novel sealwherein the sealing elements include a pair of annular or tubularconcentric members disposed in telescoping relation and providingoverlapping annuli, the innermost annulus supporti-ng a flexible sealingelement which includes a generally radially extending sealing elementwhich is stressed axially and tends to straighten out to a radialposition and wherein the side of the sealing element away from which theradial portion is deecting is open to the atmosphere so that upon theentry of dirt and the like into the space behind the sealing element thedirt will tend to Wedge the sealing element tightly against the annulusof the outer sealing member to augment the bias in the element tosealing position.

iA still further object of the invention is to provide a novel sealingarrangement which includes a pair of channel-shaped ring elements, eachof which comprises a radial web and a pair of axially extending angeportions and the ange portions of the outer element intercalating withthe flange portions of the inner element and the outermost ange of theouter element affording a press lit engagement within a bore in an outerrotatable member and the inner flange of the inner element providing abore snugly admitting an inner rotatable member and the inner ange ofthe outer element carrying a sealing ring which includes a radialsealing web engaging the inner surface of the outer flange of the innerelement, the said sealing web being stressed axially and in staticposition being normally radial and therefore tending and being biased byits own distortion into peripheral sealing engagement with the outerflange of 'the inner element.

A corollary object of the invention is to provide a novel sealingarrangement, as set forth in the preceding object, and wherein thesealing element further cornprises additional sealing portions whichproject 'and engage the radial web of the inner element and in a furtherembodiment the sealing member also comprising a radially inwardlyextending web which is also axially distorted or flexed and whichengages with the internal side of the inner flange of the inner element,the said seal providing two sealing areas in the previous embodiment andin the latter embodiment the seal providing three ,areas of sealingengagement between the inner and outer members.

These and other objects of the invention will become more apparent fromthe specification and the drawings, wherein:

3,101,954 Patented Aug. 27, 1963 FIGURE l is a radial sectional view ofa wheel hub and axle structure incorporating the invention;

FIGURE la is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the structure ofFIGURE 1;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view taken from the outer side of theinner sealing element; p

FIGURE 3 is a side elevational view of the outer sealing element takenfrom the inner side thereof;

FIGURES 4, 5 and 6 illustrate a further modification of the invention,FIGURE 4 being comparable to FIG- URE l, FIGURE 5 being an enlargedfragmentary radial sectional view; and FIGURE 6 being a fragmentaryenlarged side elevational View;

FIGURES 7 and 8 illustrate a still further embodiment, FIGURE 7 being aradial sectional View, and FIGURE 8 being an enlarged side elevationalView of the structure shown in FIGURE 7 taken from the inner sidethereof.

Describing the invention in detail and having particular reference tothe drawings, the embodiment in FIIG- URES 1 through 3 is shown inconnection with a center shaft 2 and a rotatable member 3 mountedthereon. 'It will be understood that for purposes of the presentinvention either member 2 or 3 may be rotatable and for purposes ofclarity the same members will be referred to as being relativelyrotatable. In the present instance the shaft 2 is stationary and mountsa plurality of bearings 4 and 5 which fit within a hub 7 in conventionalmanner, the hub being provided with a closure cap 8 at one end, which ispreferably the outer end, to give accessibility to the nut or fasteningarrangement 9 as is conventional. The inner edge of the hub 7 isprovided with a radial web or attaching structure 10 which is adapted tofasten to a wheel or the like, it being understood that the structure 10may be an integral part of a wheel or may be a support for the rotatingshaft 2 if that is the case. The hub 3 is recessed on its inner side asat 11 (FIGURE l) to provide a bore 12 terminating in an internalshoulder v1I", (FIGURE 2) within which is fitted the annularchannel-shaped outer sealing element generally designated 14 of the sealbroadly indicated 15.

The outer element 14 comprises an annular axially extending outer flange`l5 which has an outer periphery 17 which lits snugly within the bore 12while the radial web portion 18 which joins or merges with the inneredge of the flange 16 seats on its external side as at 19 against theshoulder 13. The web 1S merges at its radially inner edge into anoutwardly projecting axial inner flange portion 19 which merges into aretainer generally designated 20 which s of U-shape configuration inradial cross section and extends radially inwardly of 'flange 19 andprovides an outwardly opening groove 21 defined by the radial inner andouter wall portions 22 and -23 which are joined by the axial wallportion 24 forming the bight of the U, the said walls 22 and 23 beingpinched together or clinched and embracing the radially inner edge 2 5of a radially outwardly extending lsealing element 26 which is arubber-like substance such as neoprene Vor Buna A of 60/ 70 durometer orthe like. It may be of leather, but the synthetic elastomer materialwears better.

The sealing ring 26 is preferably an annular member which under staticconditions is substantially flat and is dimensioned so that the spacebetween the retainer structure 20 and the inner or interior hardenedsurface 30 of the outer flange 31 of the inner shield member 32 is lessthan the radial width of the outer portion 33 of the sealing member.Thus the outer portion 33 is dellected inwardly or axially with respectto its radial position and the outer edge 34 engages and rubs againstthe internal surface 30 of the inner sealing member 32. `It will benoted that the outer flange 31 is directed inwardly with respect to theange 16 of the outer member and is substantially concentric therewithand is spaced therefrom radially inwardly with respect thereto and alsois spaced axially at its inner edge from the opposing side 36 of thewall portion y18 of the outer sealing member. Therefore, the inner andouter members are relatively rotatable without physical contact witheach other. 'It will be understood that the ange 31 is preferably casehardened or at least the surface 30 thereof is in order to minimize thewear and it will be observed that as the outer edge 34 of the seal 26wears that the outer portion 33 of the sealing ring will graduallystraighten out and if dirt should pack into the space 38 as it entersthrough the passage 39 defined between the outer anges 12 and 31 of theouter and inner sealing members that the portion 33 will be deflectedtoward the radial wall portion 40 of the inner sealing member along thesharp radius 41 at which the ange 31 merges with the radially outer edgeof the wall portion 40 and that as the wear occurs on the member 33 itwill be urged by the buildup of material in the space 38 against theinternal side 41 of the inner sealing element 32. The radially inneredge of the outer Wall member 40 of the inner sealing element mergeswith the inner flange 43 which defines an axial bore 44 which snugly andtightly receives the surface 45 of the axial member 2.

In the embodiment of FIGURES 4 and 5 parts similar with that of theprevious embodiment are identified by corresponding reference numerals.It will be seen that in this embodiment the inner and outer relativelyrotatable members 2 and 3 represent the inner and outer races of abearing generally designated 75 which provide a space 76 therebetweenwithin which is received the ball and spacer structure 76. At each endof the space 76 the sealing means 7S are provided. lIn the presentinstance it will be realized that inner and outer sealing elements 14aand 15 are provided and that the element 15 is disposed in the samerelative relation to the element 14a as to the element 14 in theprevious embodiment and provides an inwardly open groove 79 whichreceives the sealing member 80 which is somewhat similar to the element26. The element 30 comprises an annular mounting portion 81 whichincludes a pair of concentric rings 82 and 83 snugly embracing the innerange 84 of the outer member 14a, the flange 84 being directed toward thewall portion 41 of the inner element 15 and entering between the outerand inner flanges 31 and 43. The rings 82 and S3 are bridged by theinner edge portion 85 of the sealing element which provides a pluralityof axially directed wiper rings 86 and 87 which project and engage theinternal side 41 of the wall member 40. The sealing element 81 alsocomprises a radially outwardly extending ring 88 which is deflectedaxially inwardly and normally tends to straighten out to a radialposition and engages on and biases its outer edge 89 with the internalside 30 of the inner sealing element 15. lt will be seen that in thepresent embodiment in addition to the seal between the disk-like portion88 at the edge 89 with the surface 30, the rings 86 and S7 contactingthe internal side 41 of the inner sealing element also perform a sealingfunction.

Referring now to the embodiment of FIGURES 6 and 7, the said embodimentcompares very closely to the ernbodirnent of FIGURES 4 through 6 andlike parts are identified with corresponding reference numerals. Theonly difference in the instant embodiment over that shown in FIGURES 4through 6 is the provision of an additional sealing part 100 whichextends radially inwardly from the mounting portion of the sealingstructure and is deflected inwardly. The liap 100 has a normal positionextending radially with respect to the mounting portion and is deflectedinwardly in order to provide a bias for the sealing portion 100 toengage with its edge 101 against the opposing surface 102 on the innerange 43 of the inner sealing element 15. It will be seen that the greasecrowding against the back side 103 of the sealing ring portion 100 tendsin addition to the bias because of the deilection of the member 160 toadditionally load the member 10i) in an outward direction engaging thesurface 101 with the surface 102.

`It will be seen that in this embodiment the `seal provides a multiplesealing engagement with the inner member which is a hardened metallicstructure.

It will be understood that the foregoing description has been made forthe purposes of clearly, accurately and concisely `setting forth thebest embodiments of the invention. However, other forms of the inventionwill become readily apparent to those skilled in the art within thescope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A seal for mounting between relatively rotatable members, comprisinginner and outer annular sealing elements, each element comprising aradial wall portion and an annular axially directed ange on the wallportion in radial overlapping relation with the flange of the otherelement and developing a space therebetween, a disc-like sealing ring offlexible material having center and outer peripheral edges and xedlymounted at one edge only on the flange of one element and extendingradially across said space `between the flanges as a barrier against theentry of dirt and the like through said space and developing a dirtpocket, and having its other peripheral axial edge in sliding engagementwith the flange of the other element in an area axially displaced fromsaid mounting at said one edge.

2. The invention according to claim l and said ring being axiallydistorted throughout its entire diametrical extent and converging withthe wall portion of said other element and having a resilient characterbiasing the same to a relaxed position in the direction toward saidlastmentioned wall portion.

3. The invention according to claim 1 and said ring further having anaxially directed annular portion projecting from one side thereofstressed in compression between said iiange of the one element and thesaid wall portion of the other element.

4. The invention according to claim l and said ring having a furtherradial sealing portion extending inwardly from said center edge.

5. A seal comprising a pair of axially telescoped relatively rotatableannular sealing elements, each element comprising a radial wall and anaxially directed ange, the flange of each element projecting from thewall thereof toward the wall of the other element and radially spaced`from the flange of the other element, a sealing ring of flexiblematerial connected along one edge only to one of the anges andprojecting toward the ange on the other and having a frusto-conicalcircumferential edge in engagement with an opposed surface of thelatter, said ring being larger radially than the distance between saidflanges and stressed into a conical shape between the ilanges andtending to assume a relaxed position biasing the peripheral edge thereofinto said engagement with the respective flange, said ring spacedaxially from said walls of both elements.

6. A seal comprising an inner and an outer annular metallic element,each element being U-shaped in crosssection including a radial wall anda pair of concentric inner and outer flanges axially directed toward theother element in intercalating relationship therewith, said outer angeof the inner element presenting an internal annular sealing surfacefacing the inner flange of the outer element and a sealing annulus ofelastomer material connected to said inner flange of the outer elementand extending outwardly therefrom and axially loaded and deformed intosubstantially conical shape and having an outer cylindrical edge incomplementary wiping engagement with said sealing surface, saidconnection of the annulus with the inner flange vbeing offset axiallywith respect to the area of wiping contact of the outer edge with saidsurface and said annulus spaced axially from the walls of both of saidelements and being disposed at its connection closer to the wall of theouter element than the wall of the inner element.

7. A seal comprising an inner `and an outer annular metallic element,each element being U-shaped in crosssection including a radial wall anda pair of concentric inner and outer flanges axially directed toward theother element in intercalating relationship therewith, said outer flangeof the inner element presenting an internal annular sealing surfacefacing the inner flange of the outer element, and a sealing annulus ofelastomer material connected to said inner ange of the outer element andextending outwardly therefrom and axially loaded and deformed intosubstantially conical shape and having an outer cylindrical edge incomplementary wiping engagement with said sealing surface saidconnection of the annulus with the inner llange -being offset axiallywith respect to the area of wiping contact of the outer edge with saidsurface and said annulus comprising an axial extension projecting towardthe radial Wall of the opposing element in sealing engagement therewith.

8. A seal comprising an inner and an outer annular metallic element,each element being U-shaped in crosssection including a radial wall anda pair of concentric inner and outer flanges axially directed toward theother element in intercalating relationship therewith, said outer flangeof the inner element presenting an internal annular sealing surfacefacing the inner ilange of the outer element, and a sealing annulus ofelastomer material connected to said inner flange of the outer elementand extending outwardly therefrom and axially loaded and deformed intosubstantially conical shape and having an outer cylindrical edge incomplementary wiping engagement with said sealing surface saidconnection of the annulus with the inner ange being offset axially withrespect to the area of wiping Contact of the outer edge with saidsurface and said annulus comprising a further sealing ring projectingfrom the inner flange of the outer element to the inner flange of theinner element and slidably engaging the same and being deformed from anormal planar shape to conical form.

9. A seal for a bearing comprising inner and outer annular elementshaving oppositely extending flange portions in` radially spacedoverlapped relation and axially spaced radial wall portions, a sealingring lof elastomer material mounted about said flange of the outerelement and having a sealed connection therewith and extending radiallyoutwardly toward said flange on the inner element, said ring beingnormally at and extending radially, said ring being `distorted intolsubstantially conical shape between said flanges to bias the same intosealing engagement, said ring lbeing generally a flat, thin disk andbeing spaced axially from the radial wall portions of both elements andproviding a dust pocket with the flanges and wall of the inner element.

References Cited in the ile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,240,252 Bernstein Apr. 29, 1941 2,373,443 Armington Apr. 10, 19452,509,461 fUlseth May 30, 1950 2,715,554 Walberg Aug. 16, 1955

1. A SEAL FOR MOUNTING BETWEEN RELATIVELY ROTATABLE MEMBERS, COMPRISINGINNER AND OUTER ANNULAR SEALING ELEMENTS, EACH ELEMENT COMPRISING ARADIAL WALL PORTION AND AN ANNULAR AXIALLY DIRECTED FLANGE ON THE WALLPORTION IN RADIAL OVERLAPPING RELATION WITH THE FLANGE OF THE OTHERELEMENT AND DEVELOPING A SPACE THEREBETWEEN, A DISC-LIKE SEALING RING OFFLEXIBLE MATERIAL HAVING CENTER AND OUTER PERIPHERAL EDGES AND FIXEDLYMOUNTED AT ONE EDGE ONLY ON THE FLANGE OF ONE ELEMENT AND EXTENDINGRADIALLY ACROSS SAID SPACE BETWEEN THE FLANGES AS A BARRIER AGAINST THEENTRY OF DIRT AND THE LIKE THROUGH SAID SPACE AND DEVELOPING A DIRTPOCKET, AND HAVING ITS OTHER PERIPHERAL AXIAL EDGE IN SLIDING ENGAGEMENTWITH THE FLANGE OF THE OTHER ELEMENT IN AN AREA AXIALLY DISPLACED FROMSAID MOUNTING AT SAID ONE EDGE.